Estelle's Teasing Invitation
Estelle had been here all along, hadn’t she.
Even after the regular report ended, the banquet continued. Pointing at the delicious-looking food, Abel asked if they could eat and go.
Estelle answered that she planned to rest for a day or so.
Abel excitedly piled a plate high with food and carried it over. Estelle watched him and giggled cutely, her cheeks puffed up in delight.
“Abel.”
Elfride approached Abel, who was with Estelle. Seeing her, Estelle thought to herself.
Why does this woman keep approaching our Hero from the very beginning...
Estelle narrowed her eyes at Elfride as if wondering what she would say this time.
Abel set down his utensils and asked Elfride.
“Elfride, what’s the matter?”
“You really showed a lot of activity this time.”
“Ah, it’s all thanks to our Saint.”
His modest self-deprecation made Estelle secretly delighted inside.
Oh~♥ Our Hero is looking after even me... He’s so adorable♥
Elfride interpreted Abel’s words as his kind-hearted nature shining through.
In truth, his words were close to the truth, but since Elfride didn’t know Estelle was the “real Saint,” that was why.
“In that sense, I have something I prepared.”
“Hm?”
“As a senior who trained a diligent junior Hero, I can’t just give a gift without doing so.”
Elfride pulled something from her bosom. It was something neatly wrapped in fine paper. She handed it to Abel.
“This is for me?”
“Yes, open it.”
Abel carefully unwrapped the gift from Elfride. Inside was a thin, beautiful necklace.
“A necklace?”
“It’s a necklace that bestows a weak protection on you. It protects you from fatal attacks once a day or so.”
“...Oh.”
Abel thought it looked like a game item. Seeing that, Estelle spoke up.
“...It’s a Holy Relic of the Lunaria Goddess.”
“That’s right. As expected, Saint Estelle can recognize it.”
The necklace Elfride had given to Abel was a Holy Relic infused with the power of the Lunaria Goddess. Surprised, Abel asked.
“You can give me such a precious thing?”
“It’s not that precious. Don’t worry about it and use it.”
“Ah... Thank you, Elfride. I’ll use it well.”
Abel looked pleased. Seeing his expression, Elfride thought she had done the right thing by giving the gift. She asked him quietly.
“Abel, could you spare me some time? There’s something I want to talk about.”
“Ah, yes. Saint, Celine, I’ll be back in a moment.”
Elfride gave a light greeting to Estelle and Celine, then led Abel to a somewhat distant place. Celine watching them asked Estelle.
“Were you originally close with Hero Elfride? She gave you such a gift.”
“...We’ve become quite close since we met in Habsburg City last time.”
“You’re just going to let her take him away?”
“...The two Heroes are going to have a conversation, and there’s nothing I can do about it.”
Though Estelle said that on the surface, she was seething inside.
What does she think she is, dragging our Hero around like that!!!
Seeing Estelle snort and blow air, Celine shook her head.
“...This is frustrating.”
Meanwhile, Abel followed Elfride and asked her.
“What did you want to talk about?”
“Ah... After the banquet ends.”
“Yes.”
Elfride had been about to suggest drinking wine. But for some reason, the words wouldn’t come out of her mouth.
...What’s going on?
In the past, the words had come out naturally when she bought Revius a drink. But with Abel, it was hard to even speak them.
The same words, yet so different. Elfride was bewildered.
“Elfride?”
“Ah, um... that, Abel.”
It was a simple phrase. Just one word about drinking wine should have been easy... but Elfride couldn’t say it.
Finally, she said it in a roundabout way.
“Do you drink alcohol?”
“Alcohol? Yes! I love it!”
Abel’s eyes sparkled at the word. The intense reaction surprised Elfride a little, but there was a reason for his behavior.
After drinking beer while defeating the Ogre, Abel hadn’t been able to drink even a single glass. He also didn’t drink because Estelle said he should refrain as much as possible since she needed to grow her body, and there hadn’t been any time to drink.
“Ah, is that so? You like alcohol too. Then, Abel, after the banquet, would you like to have a drink with me?”
“That’s fine! Even though you gave me a gift, I can at least buy you a drink or so...”
“No, I’ll buy it. A junior Hero deserves that much. Rather, if I get you to drink, my pride would be in trouble.”
Abel nodded at Elfride’s words.
“Then I’ll go tell the Saint.”
“...Huh?”
Elfride was startled by Abel’s intention to report to Estelle and tried to stop him.
“Abel, wait...!”
“Saint, after the banquet ends, may I go drink with Elfride?”
Abel had already approached Estelle and was in the middle of reporting. It was a silent, worried move, but it put Elfride in a difficult spot.
Hearing Abel’s words, Estelle narrowed her eyes and looked at Elfride. Slightly flustered by her gaze, Elfride explained.
“It’s not what you think. I just wanted to buy a drink in the spirit of encouragement and celebration.”
“Hmph....”
Yet Estelle didn’t drop her suspicious gaze. At that moment, Abel next to her said to Estelle.
“Saint, you won’t come with us?”
“...Yes?”
“I really want to drink that beer... just a little.”
Abel looked a bit dejected. Seeing that expression, Estelle’s lips curled up by themselves.
What... He’s too adorable♥
Though unintended, Abel’s appearance and expression had become the perfect weapon on Estelle.
“You haven’t had a sip of alcohol for a while... You can’t?”
“Eek....”
Estelle felt it was unreasonable. When Abel looked like this, she couldn’t refuse. If he had stubbornly insisted on going, she might have scolded him...
“...Ah, fine. Go ahead. But don’t drink too much.”
“Oh, thank you!”
In the end, Estelle with her low guard allowed it. Once Estelle gave permission, Elfride relaxed too.
“...Estelle was here after all.”
Looking at her, Celine commented briefly.
“...You two are having fun.”
Levius, the red-haired man watching the figures of Abel and Elfride’s group, felt his irritation rise. He should have been the one talking to Elfride, yet a commoner had taken his place. And the fact that the Saint who had been with him was now beside that guy only fueled his anger.
Levius slammed his wine glass down hard on the table. Natalie and Sonia jumped at the clinking sound.
“...Levius, why are you doing that?”
“After the banquet, I have to take care of something.”
“Huh?... Are you talking about the Hero Abel?”
Levius rose roughly from his seat and told Natalie.
“Natalie, go ahead first. Tell me the moment that bastard comes out.”
“Um... yes, understood.”
As soon as Levius left the banquet hall, Estelle scanned his back. Seeing his companions not follow, she told Abel.
“Hero, I need to go somewhere for a moment.”
“Hm? Where are you going all of a sudden?”
“Just to see an acquaintance for a bit. Don’t worry about me, Hero, and enjoy yourself with Hero Elfride. Don’t drink too much and get drunk like an Ogre~♡”
“...I won’t.”
Estelle gave Elfride a polite greeting and left the banquet hall without delay.
#
Levius exited the banquet hall. He deliberately didn’t return straight to his quarters. Walking around the palace to kill time, Levius suddenly turned back sharply.
“What’s the matter? Why are you following me?”
“You probably knew all along, so I waited to see when you’d call me~♡”
Right after leaving the banquet, the woman following him was Estelle. She had never intended to hide that she was tailing Levius. Her footsteps echoed, after all.
Levius wondered why. She wasn’t sneaking around; what reason did she have to follow him so boldly?
“Do you have some business with me?”
“Yes, I do.”
Levius scrutinized Estelle’s expression. But in that mild-looking face, he couldn’t tell what hidden motive she had.
Even though he had lured her to a secluded place, she had followed steadily. That meant she wanted to tell him something secret?
Thinking that, Levius guessed and said.
“Ah, did you follow me because you wanted to accompany me?”
“...?”
Estelle tilted her head, but Levius, unable to see small movements well in the dark, took her silence as agreement.
“I understand. Being with the useless commoner Hero must be quite a hardship for you. It’s no wonder you went with that guy, Celine...”
Levius spoke in the tone of a sophisticated man. Hearing that, Estelle’s voice came out coldly.
“...I wonder what nonsense you’re confusing yourself with.”
“Eh?”
“I came here simply to have you apologize for the insults you hurled at our Hero and Saint Celine.”
Estelle was surprised. How could she think he would follow someone like him when he couldn’t even reach Abel’s feet in charm? This man knew nothing of his place.
Realizing he was mistaken, Levius trembled slightly with shame.
“...Is there any reason I should apologize to him?”
“...Then none?”
“As the eldest son of the noble Grosfeld family, why should I apologize to a commoner?!”
“......Ah, is that so?”
At that moment, a chill ran down Levius’s entire body. The cold aura he had sensed in Estelle’s eyes earlier had changed instantly. He felt the same freezing determination he had sensed in the regular report.
...This is beyond comprehension.
His experience as a seasoned warrior told him she was dangerous. He couldn’t understand why such a feeling arose from a mere Saint.
“You really have no intention of apologizing, Hero Levius?”
“...As I said earlier, is there any reason I should apologize to a commoner?”
“If you don’t apologize, I’ll make you kneel and apologize.”
Estelle issued a final warning. If you don’t apologize on your own, there will be no leniency. But Levius was a man with very strong pride. Despite his instincts screaming danger, he shouted.
“Hah, if you can, try it! On what grounds do you talk so confidently...”
Sacred Arms
Kong! Levius’s two knees slammed to the floor. Levius was still processing the situation. At some point, an enormous force had pinned him down. Levius tried to force himself up, but it was impossible.
Even as a fifth-year Hero, Levius hadn’t reacted to such a powerful Holy Law activating. Realizing this, Levius was stunned.
While pinned down by the massive divine power, Estelle whispered quietly to Levius.
“If you have any intention of apologizing, come to the room we’re staying in tomorrow morning. If you don’t...”
Estelle smiled sweetly and issued the final warning.
“Got it?”